The last school of the term had been caring for us very nicely, but they were finding it a bit of a struggle getting our breakfast out to us across the muddy fields, so the decision was made, time to come home for Christmas. Now I was slightly worried when I heard the plan, I've always been happy out here with the other Herefords and the Aberdeen Angus. Every morning and evening 8 children with 8 buckets of feed shared into 2 troughs, even I can do the maths. However every mealtime 8 calves at one trough and me, Ruby, pretending to hold back then getting a whole trough to myself. I've been doing it for months and they never twigged... Suddenly I find we're all in with the Gloucesters, some of whom are at least a year older than me, 3 troughs, 13 hungry animals...... and yet the same trick still paid off.
The roaming piglets have been weaned and re-housed in a more secure unit, once they learn to dig up the grass then there's really no option, so it's a warm dry sty and plenty of straw to play in and keep the bed warm.
Of course as soon as the piglets were shut in, the puppies get more adventurous by the hour, so you can never quite relax.
We had special guests this week, children from a local prep school who brought a lovely big cheque full of money they'd raised by making and selling chutney. They were delightful and not only did they bring the cheque, they spent the whole morning here helping with the farm jobs - and took some of our mud back to school with them.
Our staff managed to get out into the orchard to keep going with the restoration work. I can see it all looks very tidy and I'm sure it helps the trees grow, but from a bovine viewpoint those fences around each tree are very annoying, we love to help with the pruning..... Mind you I guess you have to keep the sheep off, they just don't know when to stop.
The orchards should be looking good ready for the big Wassail in January and I've heard a rumour that there are new trees going in after Christmas, eaters, a firm favourite with us cattle, those endless cider varieties play havoc with your digestion. Let's just hope they forget the tree guards.
After a very very wet week, the resident children had glorious weather to end their week with the "Long Walk". The river looked lovely in the sun and even the maize fields were looking stunning.
However, the children managed to find the mud.....
and finished with the traditional hill roll!
Back at the farm Silver popped out to the orchard to help with the fencing
meanwhile two very friendly cats have moved into the house
Anyway, the good news is that we cattle have settled our differences and we have all moved in together in the newly-restored barn with fresh straw and plenty of hay, and just as I write that it has started to snow so perhaps it'll be a white Christmas after all. So from Wick Court we would like to wish you all a
very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
love
Ruby
pp Boris
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